Management of Hypertension

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular andrenal diseases. The third National Health and Morbidity Survey of 2006showed that the prevalence of hypertension among adults 30 years oldand above was 43%, a relative increase of 30% from that of 10 years earlier.
It is now estimated that there are 4.8 million individuals with hypertensionin Malaysia. The estimated figure worldwide is a staggering 1 billion individuals. It is however alarming to note that, according to the findings ofthe Third National Health and Morbidity Survey of 2006, close to two thirds of individuals with hypertension in Malaysia were unaware that they have hypertension. Although there was an increase in the treatment rate among those who have been diagnosed, the control rate is still poor. The Third National Health and Morbidity Survey revealed that among patients with hypertension who were on drug treatment, only 26% of them achieved the target blood pressure. This finding is consistent with a separate survey conducted by the Institute of Health Management of the Ministry of Healthon the outpatient management of hypertension in government clinics.Only 28.5% of patients treated for hypertension in government clinicsachieved the target blood pressure.

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